During September, the ERCBNA Province was honored to host Jessica Dewhurst at a number of events in the United States centered around human rights and advocacy. Jessica is the Director and Co-Founder of the Justice Desk in Cape Town South Africa. Jessica has worked as part of the Edmund Rice Network for many years, and is a champion of human rights and justice, particularly in her home country of South Africa.

Photographer:

Jessica Dewhurst speaks to the Iona College campus community during her keynote speech. Seated on stage (l-r) are Dr. Joseph Nyre, Iona College President, Br. Kevin Griffith, ERCBNA Province Leader, Carl Procario-Foley, Ph.D, Director of Iona College Mission and Ministry, and Iona College SGA President Hannah McGowan.

On Sep. 18, Jessica was the keynote speaker for Iona College’s Second Annual Br. William B. Cornelia Lecture. Her talk, “Everyday Activism: The Struggle for Justice in an Unjust World,” introduced students to her work in activism and justice and challenged them to seek out ways to be involved in their own everyday lives. Along with being the keynote speaker, Jessica also had the opportunity to tour Iona College’s campus and visit a number of classrooms. Just up the street in New Rochelle, Jessica also visited Iona Prep, and spoke with students there about human rights issues. She challenged Iona Prep’s students to take their charitable acts a step further, and to look for ways to advocate for the marginalized. Jessica also spent time visiting with Iona Prep’s Human Rights Club after school.

Jessica also joined participants in this year’s ACTION Student Leadership Workshop in Jacksonville, Florida. The more than 40 students from 15 ERCBNA schools greatly benefited from listening to Jessica’s extensive knowledge and experience in the field of human rights and justice.

The ERCBNA Province thanks Jessica for graciously spending time at our schools with students and community members. We are grateful for sharing your experiences with us and hope you will visit again!